Analysis: Is Mike Ashley remodelling the economics of the high street?
Sports Direct tycoon Mike Ashley is one of the retail industry’s great disruptors, but are his hardball tactics for renegotiating rents at his many chains remodelling the economics of high street retail?
Sports Direct tycoon Mike Ashley is building an ever-growing empire as he picks up struggling retailers such as House of Fraser and Evans Cycles.
He is using his considerable weight to negotiate savvy property deals as he seeks to build a future for these chains. Rent-free deals, turnover-based rents – Ashley is a shrewd operator.
But is his dealmaking changing the economics of trading on the high street for all retailers? Or have landlords had enough of his hardball tactics? George MacDonald reports.
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